malachite
malachite, pearl & garnet torsade
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composition | copper hydroxycarbonate |
name source | from the Greek mal�khe, meaning "rose-mallow" or "hollyhock" because the color and lobed shape of leaves of the plant resembles the color and pattern of the mineral |
other accepted names | Silver Peak jade, green copper |
historical aliases | peacock stone |
folkloric aliases | "stone of great fortune and wealth," "the midwife's stone" |
color | banded light and dark green designs |
color source | copper |
significant sources | mainly the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) and Russia (Urals) |
MOH scale | 3.5 - 4 |
care and treatment | Wash in warm soapy water with a gentle soap but don't leave in water. Due to its low hardness, malachite is sensitive to heat, acids, ammonia, and hot water. |
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